WISEWOMAN

WISEWOMAN is a CDC demonstration project designed to help low-income, midlife women reduce their risk of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases, through risk factor screening and referral services, and lifestyle intervention programs that promote healthy eating, increased physical activity, and smoking cessation. UNC-HPDP has been involved with WISEWOMAN research initiatives since the program’s inception in 1995.Topic area(s):Health Disparities; Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention; Women, Children and Minorities

Purpose

To provide low–income, under– or uninsured 40– to 64–year–old women with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to improve diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle behaviors to prevent, delay and control cardiovascular and other chronic diseases

Project Description

WISEWOMAN (Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation in Women Across the Nation) is a CDC demonstration project designed to help low-income, women ages 40-64 years reduce their risk of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. WISEWOMAN preventive services include risk factor screenings (such as blood pressure, cholesterol), medical referrals, and lifestyle intervention programs that promote healthy eating, increased physical activity, and smoking cessation.

In collaboration with the NC Division of Public Health, UNC-HPDP has conducted several research studies to test the effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention program, A New Leaf…Choices for Healthy Living, among WISEWOMAN participants. New Leaf is a structured nutrition and physical activity assessment and counseling program for cardiovascular disease risk reduction among low-income individuals. More than 3,500 women and 40 health departments/centers across North Carolina have participated in at least one NC WISEWOMAN study. From 1995-97, we conducted a pilot study in local health departments to test and refine the New Leaf lifestyle intervention program model. Between 1998-2001, we tested the model, which included the New Leaf computer-tailored maintenance intervention, in multiple health departments.

Most recently (2002-05), we have focused our research in a large community health center in Wilmington, NC, and tested a new component of the New Leaf program: a community resource linkages intervention which addresses community and environmental factors that may influence healthy lifestyle choices. In 2006, we will translate this research into practice with the development of Community Links for Better Health, a step-by-step guide for creating tailored community resource tools that foster the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Funding

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services